Motherland: Fort Salem Review: Irrevocable (Season 2 Episode 7)

Raelle fights for her life as she endures torture from the Camarilla. Meanwhile, Abigail and Adil use his work to follow the lead to Charvel’s vocal cords on Motherland: Fort Salem Season 2 Episode 7, “Irrevocable.”

There’s a lot to unpack, but the most substantial moment to start with would be Willa’s death. She worked tirelessly to make the world a better place for Raelle to have a better life. It’s nerve-wracking experiencing her see Raelle in the flesh and die in the next few moments.

Willa joining Raelle inside the Mycelium mind-frame that she visits when she dies is a priceless moment. It holds substantial power to be the top moment of the season. Their reunion may have been the goal from the beginning of the season, but this isn’t what was expected.

Willa’s storyline is cut off prematurely and used as a plot device to throw Raelle into the next chapter of her storyline. And Willa deserves better than that. She is given a decent amount of screen time throughout the season, but it’s not enough. The surface has barely been cracked on who Willa Collar was, and her life is cut entirely too short. 

Willa and Scylla’s team-up is one of the best things to come from the season, but there should have been more between the two. There are vague conversations had with Willa about Scylla and her relationship with Raelle, but they should have been having direct conversations about it and not sidelining it.

The fact that Willa is technically going to be her mother-in-law is something that should’ve been addressed. It could’ve been a small bonding moment between the two. There could have been so much more done with her character before making her die. Her having to die right before Raelle is wildly disrespectful and is only done for shock value. 

It’s heartbreaking for Raelle, and there’s no telling what her reaction will be. She believes that her mother has been dead for years and actively chose to ignore her during Samhain. Now, she’s reunited with Willa for a total of 3 minutes and, in that time, is told she was willingly left behind. That alone is going to mess her up. 

Raelle will not be able to get over the fact that Willa left her on purpose, understandably. She’ll likely take it out on everyone except Scylla. There is some blowback to be expected between the two of them, even after Scylla explains the situation. But, being reunited after so long apart, there probably won’t be much fighting. Raelle will undoubtedly be able to forgive Scylla easily, unlike the rest of the unit or military. 

I hope Raelle is given adequate time to heal and process the range of emotions that will likely consume her. She’s going to have more questions than anything and deserves truthful answers from whoever is answering. 

Willa’s death is traumatic for Scylla as well because she plays a crucial part in Scylla’s life. Willa is one of the only people in Scylla’s life that she can consider family, besides Raelle, and now she’s gone. Scylla has nobody else to run to, and there’s no way it doesn’t break her or trigger something from her parents’ death. More than likely, she’ll shrug it off and act fine around Raelle, but for her sake, I hope she opens up about the pain.

Unfortunately, this season, Willa isn’t the only character that hasn’t been given adequate time for storyline development. Tally has so much power and potential in her, and it’s easily noticeable, but we don’t get to see it shown off that often.

All that has been revealed about Tally’s storyline is that she can see sounds, unlike anyone else, and is experiencing visions. There hasn’t been any substantial growth or maturing in her storyline to push it further yet. 

The possibility that it’s Nicte’s memories that Tally has been experiencing, not Alders, is vital. But we probably won’t find out until the penultimate episode or finale of the season, which I find ridiculous. Tally has had one of the most intriguing storylines this season and has essentially been pushed to the side. 

Tally is a fantastic friend and would go to the ends of the earth for them, but not everything she does has to connect with them somehow. We’re only getting tiny slivers of time where she’s focusing on herself, and there needs to be more. From the previews, it looks like Season 2 Episode 8 will be a big Tally-centric episode, and I’m looking forward to it.

Penelope is another character that has been introduced and then cast away just as fast as they arrived. Penelope is only added to the season as a way to add the Vice President to the deck of cards in play. Her being removed for “protection” by the Vice President and then not seen again is suspicious, along with the disappearance of President Wade. 

Everything within me says the Vice President is not to be trusted based on his questionable behavior. The reveal that he’s connected with the Camarilla in some way is coming; I can feel it.

Adil’s character progression is heavily pushed on “Irrevocable” as he’s seen breaking his ways of pacifism and exploring talents he didn’t even know he has. Adil is no longer in his homeland, and it’s forcing him to venture outside of his comfort zone. He’s resistant to any form of violence at first, but after being with the military for so long, there’s no way he doesn’t see this day coming. 

It was only a matter of time before Adil’s lifestyle became totally corrupted. 

Adil saving Abigail by killing the Camarilla agent and breaking every bone in his body is quite the character advancement and not one I’m sure Adil can handle. Taking someone else’s life changes a person, and you can see it in Adil’s face that something doesn’t sit right with him afterward.

In one day, Adil has gone from throwing his first punch to killing someone for the first time. His morals being shattered as he breaks his life of non-violence is a decision I hope he doesn’t come to regret.

He knows it has to be done to save the children from the Camarilla, so he doesn’t think twice at the moment. Yet, I see him spiraling from his actions on Season 2 Episode 8, “Delusional,” or before the end of the season. 

It’s fascinating to learn all of the unique abilities Adil has and can do, but the circumstances are abysmal. There’s nothing lucky about the situation at hand, but Adil should be relieved that nobody from the military is present to see the extent of his powers. If Alder knew exactly what Adil could do with his work, there’s no way he’d ever be allowed to leave without a pair of eyes on him at all times. 

Scylla sticking by Raelle’s side is an indicator that, hopefully, she’ll stick around with the unit. Preferably for the rest of the season, if she and Abigail can resort from killing one another. Abigail has animosity for Scylla and her past actions, but I’m hoping that after the end of this season, we’ll see a friendship begin to blossom between the two. 

Abigail cares for Raelle too much to allow Scylla to hurt her again, but if they sat down and calmly talked, there’s a good chance they would notice they’re more alike than they think. 

Scylla being in the main viewpoint for the rest of the season is an exhilarating thought and much needed. It’s about time that we see her integrating back into Raelle’s life. 

The directing on “Irrevocable” is insanely well-shot and thought out. The parallels between Season 1 Episode 7 and Season 2 Episode 7 are matched beautifully. Raelle waking on the table, looking at Scylla for the first time since being apart, just as she does in Season 1 after fighting so hard to reconnect with Scylla. It’s brilliant. 

Shannon Kohli is the director of “Irrevocable” and Season 1 Episode 7, “Mother Mycelium,” creating a cinematic masterpiece and paralleling the two. 

Other Thoughts:

• Alder has been attacked twice now; it’s time to figure out a defensive strategy before the next one. 
• Curiosity makes me wonder if the Biddy Tally attacked was being used in the attack or if she was helping Nicte initiate it. 
• The bisexual lighting inside the Mycelium mind-frame area is beyond exquisite and makes Taylor Hickson pop. That lighting does wonders for the feel and imagery.

What did you think of this episode of Motherland: Fort Salem? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

Motherland: Fort Salem airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on Freeform.

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

Praneet Akilla Talks ‘Motherland: Fort Salem’ and the #Adorio Bromance [Interview]